2014 Ram 1500 Get to Know Guide 

IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the potential for overheating by
taking the appropriate action:
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, shift the transmission to NEUTRAL, but do notincrease engine idle speed.
NOTE:
There are steps that you can take to slow down an impending overheat condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C system adds heat to the engine cooling system and turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
•
You can also turn the temperature control to maximum heat, the mode control to floor
and the blower control to high. This allows the heater core to act as a supplement to
the radiator and aids in removing heat from the engine cooling system.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage your vehicle. If the temperature
gauge reads HOT (H), pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air
conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back into the normal range. If the
pointer remains on HOT (H), and you hear continuous chimes, turn the engine off
immediately, and call for service.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from
your radiator. If you see or hear steam coming from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has had time to cool. Never try to open a cooling system
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
175

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
Jack Location
The jack and jack tools are stored under the front passenger seat.
Removal Of Jack And Tools
• To access the jack and jack tools you must remove the plastic access cover,located on the side of the seat. To remove the cover, pull the front part of the cover
(closest to the front of the seat) toward you to release a locking tab. Once the front
of the cover is loose, slide the cover toward the front of the seat until it is free from
the seat frame.
1500 Series Trucks
• Remove the jack and tool bag by removing the wing bolt and sliding the jack and tool bag from under the seat.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
176

2500/3500 Series Trucks
• Remove the jack and tool bracket assembly by removing the wing bolt and slidingthe jack and tool bracket assembly from under the seat.
Removing The Spare Tire
• Remove the spare tire before attempting to jack up the truck. Attach the wheelwrench to the jack extension tube. Insert the tube through the access hole between
the lower tailgate and the top of the bumper and into the winch mechanism tube.
Rotate the wheel wrench handle counterclockwise until the spare tire is on the
ground with enough cable slack to allow you to pull it out from under the vehicle.
When the spare is clear, tilt the retainer at the end of the cable and pull it through
the center of the wheel.
NOTE:
Always stow the spare tire with the valve stem facing the ground.
• It is recommended that you stow the flat or spare to avoid tangling the loose
cable.
NOTE:
The winch mechanism is designed for
use with the jack extension tube only.
Use of an air wrench or other power tools
is not recommended and can damage the
winch.
1 — Wheel Wrench 2 — Spare Tire
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
177

Preparations
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the shift lever into PARK. On four-wheel drive vehicles, shift the transfercase to the 4L position.
5. Turn the ignition OFF.
• Block both the front and rear of the wheel diagonally opposite the jacking position. For example, if the right front wheel is being changed, block the left rear wheel.
NOTE:
Passengers should not remain in the
vehicle when the vehicle is being jacked.
Instructions
1. Remove the spare wheel, jack, and tools from storage.
2.
Using the wheel wrench, loosen, but do
not remove, the wheel nuts by turning
them counterclockwise one turn while
the wheel is still on the ground.
3. Placement of the jack:
Wheel Blocked
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
178

1500 Series Trucks
• When changing a front wheel, place the scissors jack under the rear portion of thelower control arm as shown below.
Front 4x2 Jacking Location
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
179

•Operate the jack using the jack drive tube and the wheel wrench. The tube extension
may be used but is not required.
Front 4x4 Jacking Location
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
180

•For 4x2 and 4x4 trucks, when changing a rear wheel, assemble the jack drive tube
to the jack and connect the drive tube to the extension tube. Place the jack under
the axle between the wheel and the shock bracket with the drive tubes extending
to the rear.
• Connect the jack tube extension and wheel wrench.
Rear 4x4 Jacking Location
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
181

2500/3500 Series Trucks
•For 2500/3500 4x2 series trucks, when changing a front wheel, place the bottle
jack under the frame rail behind the wheel. Locate the jack as far forward as
possible on the straight part of the frame.
•
Operate the jack using the jack drive tube and the wheel wrench. The tube extension,
may be used, but is not required.
• For 2500/3500 4x4 series trucks, when changing the front wheel, assemble the
jack drive tube to the jack and connect the drive tube to the extension tube.
Place the jack under the axle as close to the tire as possible with the drive tubes
extending to the front. Connect the jack tube extension and wheel wrench.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
182